The launch at BICC in Lilongwe presided over by Vice-President Michael Usi
* e-waste management policy is a crucial step steps toward a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations—Veep Michael Usi
* We are deeply committed to environmental sustainability and believes that addressing the growing problem of e-waste is a vital part of our collective responsibility—Standard Bank
By Prisca Promise Mashushu, MANA
The national e-waste management policy that the Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change has launched will play an important role in making sure Malawi is safe from harmful e-waste that can cause pollution and many other health issues.
Advertisement
The launch — that coincided with the commemoration of the International E-waste Day in Lilongwe — was presided over by Vice-President Michael Usi, who is also Minister of Natural Resources & Climate Change, who attested that the e-waste management policy is a crucial step steps toward a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations.
The Vice President said the improper disposal of e-waste has led to soil and water contamination, through the release of hazardous chemicals that poses health risks to the people who come into contact with such materials, but also wreaking havoc on the environment.
Usi asked Malawians to join hands in the global effort to retrieve, recycle, and revive, saying: “This year’s theme, ‘Join the e-waste hunt, retrieve, recycle and revive’ encourages all to participate in managing waste in the country, as one way of promoting environment and curbing climate change.
“We need to take critical steps towards managing e-waste in Malawi by promoting public awareness on proper disposal of E-waste material which are causing many health and environment problems in the country.
“E-waste, if not handled properly, can wreak havoc on our environment, and this is why we must join hands in this global effort to retrieve, recycle, and revive,” he said.
Usi hailed the launch of the National E-Waste Management Policy which he said “is a critical step forward in our journey toward creating a sustainable framework for managing e-waste in Malawi”.
The vice president also called for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders in the e-waste management, saying: “I call upon all stakeholders — government agencies, the private sector, civil society, and every Malawian citizen — to support and engage in the national effort to manage e-waste.
“Let us work together to retrieve old electronics, recycle them responsibly, and revive the precious resources contained within them for the benefit of our economy, society and environment.”
Meanwhile, Standard Bank Plc has already partnered with the Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change by investing K11.5 million, which was in support of the launch the e-waste management policy as well as its implementation.
The 2024 National E-waste Management Policy aims to properly manage waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), ensuring environmental and human health protection are in line with national and international goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Standard Bank’s Chief Risk Officer, Kondwani Mlilima said the partnership underscores the bank’s continued commitment to environmental sustainability: “Standard Bank is deeply committed to environmental sustainability and believes that addressing the growing problem of e-waste is a vital part of our collective responsibility.
“This investiment is part of our ongoing efforts to support initiatives that help protect our country, and we are proud to contribute to this important project.”
Standard Bank staff in support of the launch
Mlilima further said worldwide, there are growing concerns about e-waste, and as such Standard Bank is optimistic the newly developed e-waste management policy is a critical step in mitigating these risks and promoting sustainability.
“The E-Waste Management Policy is integral to ensure safe and environmentally responsible management of e-waste,” he said. “Therefore, as a bank that believes that; ‘Malawi is Our Home and We Drive Her Growth’, we are certain that the policy will address the growing challenges of electronic waste disposal and recycling.”
He took cognizance that the e-waste management policy is a masterpiece as it establishes an institutional framework for coordinated efforts among government institutions, the private sector, development partners, academia, and civil society.
“This policy aims to provide a unified guiding framework for achieving sustainable and standardised approaches to e-waste management in Malawi. The government has gone the extra mile to ensure that there is a holistic approach in the management of electronic waste,” Mlilima said.
Secretary responsible for administration in the Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change, Richard Pelekamoyo expressed his gratitude to Standard Bank for becoming a private entity to partner with the ministry.
Richard Pelekamoyo
“As a Ministry, we are happy that the private sector can play a role in the management of environmental issues,” he said. As we celebrate the launch of this policy, we want to thank Standard Bank for helping us with financial resources.”
He added that with the increase in the usage of technology, there is a surge of e-waste issues globally and Malawi is not spared, saying: “e-waste is a big problem because people are using technology every day. Therefore, the management of these obsolete gadgets is vital in a sense that improper management is hazardous to the environment and people,” he said.
The partnership between Standard Bank and the Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change is part of a broader strategy to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors for sustainable development.
The policy focuses on six priority areas — institutional, legal & regulatory framework; financing; infrastructure development; capacity building & awareness; research & development; and electrical & electronic equipment certification.
Advertisement
In 2022, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) started developing the e-waste strategy to address issues of management involving any electrical and electronic equipment that is discarded or is intended to be discarded or is required to be discarded after use.
Such include temperature equipment (fridges), televisions, lamps (fluorescent), large equipment (telecommunication equipment); small IT (mobile phones, computers); copiers, fax machines and any other common electronic products described as e-waste after its use.
At the MACRA Open Day 2022, the Authority emphasised that some of the electrical and electronic equipment that are discarded contain some high levels of contaminants, which can harm people as well as the environment — thus the need to control such e-waste.
And on Tuesday, MACRA Board chairperson, Bridget Chibwana emphasised that the national e-waste management policy will play an important role and make sure the country is safe from harmful e-waste that can cause pollution and many health issues.
“MACRA will work hand in hand with the government, Ministry of Natural Resources & Climate Change and all other stakeholders engaged to ensure that all policies launched today are practically used in the country,” she said.
According to Wikipedia, uncontrolled e-waste practices can expose people in close contacts to high levels of contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic — which can lead to irreversible health effects, including cancers, miscarriages, neurological damage and diminished IQs.
Wikipedia further says rapid advances in technology, economic growth, urbanisation processes, increasing demand for consumer electronic equipment and a downward trend in prices are a few factors responsible for the unparalleled growth of e-waste worldwide during the last two decades.—Editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
Advertisement